Calum Miller MP calls for urgent Forever Chemicals testing after MOD documents reveal historic contamination risks at RAF Upper Heyford
Calum Miller MP calls for urgent Forever Chemicals testing after MOD documents reveal historic contamination risks at RAF Upper Heyford
Calum Miller, MP for Bicester and Woodstock, has called for PFAS-specific soil and water testing around the former RAF Upper Heyford site after Ministry of Defence documents revealed historic contamination risks, including from fire-fighting chemicals.
The documents, released to Calum Miller by the MOD, do not prove PFAS contamination at RAF Upper Heyford. However, they show that historic contamination risks were identified at the former airbase, including a fire practice pond, storm water drainage, vulnerable groundwater pathways and potential contamination from fire-fighting chemicals.
Crucially, the MOD has confirmed that PFAS was not tested for in historic Land Quality Assessments, because those checks were not carried out at the time. The MOD has also said the site was disposed of in the mid-1990s before any form of PFAS testing began, that it holds no records of PFAS contamination at the site and that it has not been involved in subsequent monitoring or engagement with regulators.
Calum Miller has said that position is no longer good enough given what is now known about the risks posed by PFAS, often referred to as “forever chemicals”.
Following a public meeting in Upper Heyford on 30 April, Calum Miller wrote to a series of Ministers, regulators and public bodies, including the MOD, the Environment Agency, Cherwell District Council, the Department for Education, the UK Health Security Agency and the Drinking Water Inspectorate.
He also raised PFAS contamination at Prime Minister’s Questions on 20 May, where the Prime Minister agreed that that Calum should meet the relevant Secretaries of State. Calum has written to both the Health Secretary and the Environment Secretary to request that meeting and is continuing to press for it to be arranged.
Calum Miller has also secured agreement that the Environment Agency will convene a working group of key partners in the area to coordinate the response. He will also meet with an Environment Agency PFAS expert ahead of ministerial meetings.
Commenting, Calum Miller MP said:
“These MOD documents do not prove PFAS contamination at RAF Upper Heyford, but they do show that urgent testing is now needed.
“They identify historic contamination risks, including fire-fighting chemicals, a fire practice pond, storm water drainage and vulnerable groundwater pathways. Yet PFAS was never tested for.
“Residents deserve proper soil and water testing, proper transparency of results, and a coordinated response from central Government. They should not be left trying to navigate different public bodies passing responsibility between one another.
“This cuts across health, the environment, planning, water quality and the legacy of RAF Upper Heyford’s military use by the US Air Force. That is why I am pressing for the joined-up meeting with the Health Secretary and Environment Secretary that I was promised on behalf of local residents.
“The minimum local people deserve now is clear accountability, urgent PFAS-specific testing and a serious plan to understand any risks to local people, animals, land and water.”